Law

UCAS code: M200

Here's what University of Plymouth says about its Law course.

Are you ready to make your mark in the legal world? Combine theory and practice to prepare for a successful career. Build a deep understanding of how the law works and apply this in the real world with the support of our experienced academic team including trained and practising solicitors. Study the topics that matter most to you with our range of optional modules. Volunteer in our on-campus, multi-award-winning Law Clinic that provides free legal advice to those who need it most in the region.

Work on real cases with real clients Gain valuable professional experience by volunteering at our award-winning pro bono Law Clinic. You’ll work under the guidance of legal practitioners with real clients making a real difference in the community. You don’t need to take any time out of your studies, and you can credit towards your degree or as a volunteer.

Prepare for real-life cases in our moot court Our moot court facility provides an authentic environment to take part in simulated court proceedings. This unique setting replicates a real court as closely as possible and is the perfect environment to build powerful and persuasive legal arguments, develop your research skills, and hone your courtroom etiquette.

Enrich your studies further by joining the student-run Law Society Our Law Society offers networking opportunities and organises skill-based competitions. Our students have excelled in winning national client interviewing and mooting competitions. The Law Society provides access to a huge range of internal and national competitions for practicing advocacy, debate and negotiation skills, essential for careers in law and beyond. They also open the door to the legal industry by holding networking events throughout the year.

Learn from expert legal practitioners Our staff have genuine close links with our students. The majority are trained solicitors, with some currently practising. Benefit from excellent research-informed and practice-led teaching by a highly qualified academic team of experienced legal practitioners. We have internationally renowned researchers in areas such as the environment, marine protection, immigration and intellectual property. We regularly provide policy advice regionally and nationally, and work for change. We publish an online journal, the Plymouth Law Review, which takes contributions from staff and students.

Preparation for a professional legal career We've designed our degree to ensure you're prepared for the updated Solicitors Qualifying Exam. Our course also allows you to pursue training as a barrister, with our students regularly winning major Bar Scholarships from the Inns of Court. Take advantage of our dedicated careers service to support you to find work experience and placements during your studies.

You’ll be part of a supportive diverse academic community We keep our class sizes small, so we have a close-knit community of like-minded students and staff, who will all give you the encouragement and support you need to excel. You will be part of a diverse and supportive community and learning environment, with a dedicated personal tutor system and strong alumni links.

Gain skills that will give you an employment edge Get ahead with a course designed to help you stand out with employers, whatever your legal career direction and future career goals. Study modules with emphasis on transferrable skills as you develop your legal and professional theory and practice.

Study a range of legal topics You have a say in what you study. The first two years include traditional subjects, such as Criminal Law and Tort, alongside learning dispute resolution skills and a range of optional modules. In your final year, you can tailor your degree to your interests and career ambitions. Our optional modules include legal subjects such as: family, employment, environmental, intellectual property, business, immigration, human rights and cybercrime.

In your first year, you’ll learn about the core theories, principles and processes of the law, introducing you to how it’s studied and practised. You’ll be able to join the Student Law Society and take part in mooting, debating, negotiation and advocacy competitions. We’ve structured the curriculum so that alongside studying the English legal system, Contract, Tort, Public Law and Human Rights, you’ll start to develop the critical thinking and self-reflective skills that will equip you for your chosen career.

In your second year, you’ll focus on real-life scenarios and develop practical skills in areas such as negotiation and advocacy through our very successful Dispute Resolution Skills module. You’ll study Property Law and Criminal Law in depth and begin to tailor your degree to your specific interests by choosing from a range of modules including, for example, Family, Employment, Environmental, Intellectual Property, European Union Law, Immigration and Asylum, Human Rights and Cybercrime. You’ll also have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience volunteering in our award winning Law Clinic, either as a volunteer or for credit towards your degree programme, and will receive support in gaining a placement if you wish to take the optional placement year.

Gain valuable on-the-job experience through our optional placement year. We will support you in your second year in deciding whether to take this opportunity, and assist you in finding a placement and in being prepared for it. The placement could be in any appropriate external setting. Alternatively, you can gain this experience by selecting our Work-Based Learning module in your final year.

In your final year, you’ll have the opportunity to demonstrate your research skills with a dissertation on a legal issue that inspires you, or undertake work-based learning for credit, including within our Law Clinic. You’ll be able to further tailor your degree to your interests and career ambitions by choosing from a selection of Law modules such as, for example, those intending to progress to vocational training as either a solicitor or barrister, including Criminal Law and Practice, Business Law and Practice, and Trusts and Practice.

The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry and up to date information can be found on our website

For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly